THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 21, 1996 TAG: 9604200120
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 197 lines
ON THE 15th day of the fourth month, 1976, A.D., the Sun was created.
That is, The Suffolk Sun. Now it is known, officially at least, as The Sun.
Now the Earth did not shake but, locally, impact was noted.
A few naysayers gloomily predicted that this newcomer wouldn't work. It did - and still is working.
The Sun has helped readers become more involved in the community, introduced them to some of the area's most interesting people. We have tried to educate and amuse.
I have been part of the tabloid since Day One and have enjoyed the association.
One of the best things about it is meeting some very nice people and making some very good friends, many of whom have become close friends.
It would take a very long time to go through every edition, so we settled on checking one April issue through the years to find representative stories - written on both typewriter and computer.
They brought back many memories. Hope they do the same for you.
April 15, 1976: In two months, James River Bridge tolls would become history. Our lead story projected the results - growth, increased land values, more businesses, etc. Safe predictions, to be sure.
But the economy had as much to do with the pace as the tolls, and growth may not have been all that some people predicted.
One story had a question mark ending. It was about Guy Alain, a French chef who said he was going to open a restaurant in Suffolk. Charming fellow. No one seems to know what happened to him. If you do, give me a call: 934-7556.
And, there was the delightful story about a beauty contest sponsored by Suffolk Credit Women International. More about that in an accompanying story.
There is one irony. One of the contestants was Bonnie West, who later wed Bennie Speight. Her husband now is an owner of the building in which our office is now located.
Also in issue No. 1, a story about 90-year-old golfer, F.W. Landefeld, and greetings from then editor, Jim Raper. Jim retired several years ago and is now a leading Virginia wine expert.
April 13, 1977: Obici Hospital was offering help for diabetics, something it still does.
There was a picture of the class of '27, Carrsville Elementary School - and a picture of Duchess, chosen in national competition as the country's most obedient schipperke. Its owner was Barbara Gavin of Franklin. I remember the little pooch.
There was an ad for a 16-ounce glass of Coke - 49 cents at Champs in Suffolk Plaza Shopping Center. And there was an ad for Tri County Dodge on West Washington Street.
April 16, 1978: Children from East Suffolk Primary School visited the Dismal Swamp; Carter's Furniture opened for business at 200 E. Washington St.; Fred's Restaurant in Franklin advertised its new salad bar.
Eleven Suffolk City Council candidates offered their views, all promising to work wonders for our fair city. Cable problems was not one of the topics.
Peanut Pony League members were working on Cypress Field.
There were ads for S.W. Rawls Firestone in Suffolk, Franklin and Smithfield, and for Albert Ford-Mercury on Main Street in Suffolk.
April 19, 1979: Worry-worry. An article noted that increased home building was consuming the city's farmland and forests.
Alisa Mercer of Carrollton, 24, was scheduled to sail around the world, solo, in a Catalina sailboat two years from now. Did she set sail?
There was a story about 5-year-old belly dancer Michele Alexander. That's belly, not ballet. It would be interesting to interview her again.
Ads included a grand opening for Village Quik Check at Chuckatuck Station. Duke Oldsmobile-Cadillac had a new Coupe Deville for $9,579.
April 17, 1980: A favorite story concerned Arthur Yates, an honor prisoner at Southampton Correctional Center. He and a few other inmates worked with handicapped children, teaching them swimming at the Franklin YMCA. Yates worked with 10-year-old Stacy Fowler, a spina bifida victim.
``Swimming is not easy, but she has two things going for her - determination and a man who's serving 10 years for armed robbery,'' I wrote, adding that Yates, very strong, very tall ``weakens at the sight of his little friend.''
Stacy, who attended Courtland Elementary School, said that when she grows up, ``I'd like to work with kids.''
She is about 30 today, of course. Could she be somewhere working with children who may remind her of herself when she was a child?
An ad noted that the Young Men's Shop just moved next to Leggett's. Both are long gone.
April 16, 1981: Almost every year, at about this time, we did stories about the Special Olympics. This article involved students at John F. Kennedy High School.
Dale Kennedy, who was Suffolk High School's principal, flexed his muscles to help raise money for the junior prom. He dressed and groaned like Lou Ferrigno, ``The Incredible Hulk.''
It was the Suffolk Police Department versus the Kingsboro Bowmen in a competition for accuracy. The guys with the bows and arrows won - 2,141 to 1,506.
According to a Denison's ad, this was a year for suits for women.
April 15, 1982: Engagements: Booker-Lane, Davis-Lewis, Powell-Smith, Jordan-Langston, Potter-Chavis. Did they endure?
Bookhaven in Suffolk and Franklin was advertising something new - video home movies for rent in VHS and Beta format. Beta?
April 14, 1983: Six-year-old Christopher Jennings, who had cerebral palsy and speech problems, idolized Kenny Rogers. He got the opportunity to meet him backstage at Hampton Coliseum. I was there - since I made the arrangements. A few weeks later, Kenny sent him a stereo cassette player and four cassettes. A week after that there was more mail - a personally autographed picture and honorary fan club membership.
Farmers Bank of Sunbury had a grand opening. In Franklin and Suffolk, Cavalier Foods was selling five Florida oranges for $1.09.
April 12, 1984: Good teen news, today. Woody ``Bubba'' Eure of Gatesville saved the life of 13-year-old Gregg Williams, his cousin/best friend.
They were swimming at the Franklin YMCA when Gregg almost drowned. Bubba told the lifeguard about his pal's inert body at the bottom of the pool. The lifeguard thought he was kidding, so Bubba dived in and pulled Gregg up. A contrite Y later offered Gregg free swimming lessons.
April 11, 1985: After 39 years in the same East Washington Street location, Helen and Herman Weintrob closed the Bootery Shop.
This was the first year for giving recognition to outstanding Realtors. They were honored by the Suffolk-Franklin Board of Realtors. Honorees were Cathy S. Tyree, Thomas J. Moore and William L. Chorey.
April 10, 1986: The Peanut City Cloggers were looking for a few good boys, short males to complement the all-girl crew. Over the years they have found only a handful.
April 9, 1987: The Stone Container Corp. of Franklin closed, after 30 years.
There was an ad for Rosie's Diner on Pinner Street - a filet mignon for $5.50. There was a sketch in an ad for Glenn Martin Chevrolet showing ``Shy Glenn'' with his trademark paper bag over his trademark head.
April 10, 1988: Mark Gray, a 32-year-old Crittenden waterman, was digging for clams when he came up with some valuable artifacts including a medicine bottle dated 1779 - London. It contained ``the balsam of life,'' yet.
A program of morning worship was heard at 11 a.m. Sundays on WLPM, broadcast from First Baptist Church, Main Street.
City councilmen, honoring Arbor Day, were giving away some saplings.
April 9, 1989: First Baptist Day School and Kindergarten, North Main Street, completed its first year.
April 12, 1990: Claudia Boehm and Alexander Albrecht, two German exchange students at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, tell about people dancing atop the Berlin Wall last year, celebrating the wall fall. Their remembrance was from family. They were in Suffolk at the time.
The View From Here, the Sun's question-answer session, asked about the death penalty. Four were in favor, two against it.
Western Sizzlin advertised its new manager. No name was mentioned.
The Armory Drive Cinema in Franklin had these flicks to choose from: ``Ernest Goes to Jail,'' ``Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' and ``Crazy People.'' Not a choice week.
We devoted a few paragraphs to a recipe for corn sticks.
April 18, 1991: The View From Here asked some children at Mount Zion Elementary School to describe spring fever. Quintina White described it nicely. ``Spring fever is when it's very hot and you got a fever.''
April 21, 1992: One story was devoted to flea markets bargains.
The Franklin Downtown Development Committee advertised the world premiere of the movie filmed around town, ``Deuce Coupe.''
On stage, at Lakeland High School, rehearsals were under way for ``Agatha Christie Made Me Do It.'' One of the stars was Michael J. Debranski, the principal.
April 18, 1993: The cover story covered computers and featured a picture of 5-year-old Eleanor Kirk and her 2-year-old sister, Caroline, working computers.
G. Elliott Cobb Jr. was appointed mayor of Franklin to fill the unexpired term of Rice Day, who left town. Earlier, he had been appointed to that position - twice. In 1984 and 1986.
Pirates of the Mississippi, who faded from the country scene, were the name entertainers at the Smithfield Ham and Gourmet Festival.
April 17, 1994: Four homes in Suffolk and four in Franklin were open for home and garden tours.
Those cities had another item in common. Both were upgrading their airports.
Carolyn ``Sunny'' Dixon, principal of Kilby Shores Elementary School, was profiled.
April 16, 1995: Six families were profiled as The Sun discussed Easter and Passover traditions.
Richard Furlough, a chemistry teacher at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, won one of 100 awards given by the Tandy Technological Scholars Project, to the nation's outstanding chemistry teachers. He was chosen from a field of 2,000.
Other teacher honors went to Jody Sommerfeldt, a first grade teacher at Southwestern Elementary School, who was chosen to represent Suffolk in the annual Sallie Mae First Class Teacher competition, an honor for rookie teachers.
Hope this brought back some memories. Want more? Check The Sun, April 2016.
Actually, you won't have to wait that long. There'll be more soon. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
In April 1980, the Suffolk Sun paid tribute to volunteers.
File photo by RAYMOND GEHMAN
The premiere of ``Deuce Coupe'' was advertised in April 1992. This
scene was filmed at Suffolk High School.
File photo by DAVID HOLLINGSWORTH
In 1976, the Sun covered the removal of the James River Bridge
toll.
KEYWORDS: ANNIVERSARY EDITION 20TH ANNIVERSARY by CNB